Roofing company faces nearly $160,000 in OSHA fines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has levied some $160,000 in fines against a Rochester-area roofing firm.

A.M Stern Inc. earned fines totaling $140,000 for allegedly allowing workers to be exposed to fall hazards and failing to properly position a safety monitor, OSHA officials said Monday. The agency counts the second charge, which is similar to a violation committed by the roofing firm in 2008 as a repeat offense.

In addition to charging the firm with letting its workers be unnecessarily exposed to fall hazards, OSHA inspectors cited the Anderson Avenue roofing company for another $19,250 of fines for violations including:

Failure to provide medical evaluations and training for employees required to wear respirators;

Allowing an untrained employee to operate a forklift;

Failure to provide employees with information and training on hazardous chemicals; and

The safety monitor’s failure to warn employees of fall hazards.

The alleged violations were spotted by OSHA officials working out of the agency’s Buffalo office during on-site inspections that began last July at a Fairport job site, OSHA said.

A.M. Stern has 15 business days to cure the alleged violations or contest the charges. It can also schedule an informal meeting with OSHA officials.